AN: Man, I just don't know when to stop writing…or starting new stories when I still have that DBZ fic hanging out in the wind and another Tekken fic I'm desperately trying to get through (and isn't nearly finished, by the way). I've had this in my head and just had to put this down before I completely forgot about it. Plus, I finally get to use Jin in my story.

Chapter 1: So It Begins…

Jin hated his father. He had never met the man before, but he had decided at some point that he didn't want anything to do with him. A man who was able to leave a woman as kind-hearted and innocent as his mother, was not worth his time to concern himself about. He had asked his mom plenty of times about him, but for some reason whenever he brought up the subject, Mom would become quite solemn even depressed. She'd always say: "He was a good man, but I was a fool for loving such a person." That's all he would ever get out of her. She would never divulge upon the subject. In fact, she would often have to leave the room just to regain her composure. Something horrible must have occurred between them, something that Jun would never be strong enough to say outright to Jin, her one and only son. To drive a woman like her to such a massive mood swing, was a feat in itself. Jin might have done a few naughty things in his time, but it had never gotten as much as a rise out of her. Until the day he had asked about his father, Jin had never seen her anything beyond content or slightly annoyed. One word to describe her was "peaceful".

But she wasn't really at peace. At least around him she could put up a good front, but Jin was no fool. When he was a lot younger, sometimes he would try to sneak into her room only to find that she was crying. He would sit there in front of her closed door and listen to her sobbing. It was painful to hear, but he knew intuitively that there was nothing he could do to sooth her pain. When he could no longer stand it as his eyes became moist, he would quietly return to his room in a solemn mood. He never once mentioned the fact that he knew that her usual calm exterior was just a mere façade. Though he felt helpless, he knew that confronting her would solve little. Jun was a closed woman. She was open to a certain extent with Jin, but he was aware that there were some things that she simply kept to herself.

"Jin? Are you up?" Jun asked in a tone that was slightly louder than her usual one as she knocked on his door. She opened the door despite not getting an answer. "Jin, you know it's no good to sleep all day."

Jin who was only pretending to be asleep couldn't find it in his heart to completely ignore the other. Though he was still partially under his covers and turned on his stomach with his face smashed into the pillow, he still responded.

"It's not like I have anything to do today," Jin said. He had turned his head to the side so that Jun could hear him clearly.

"Well, what do you say? Do you want to learn some Aikido today?"

"No…" Jin said with a groan.

"Are you sure? It could be fun."

"Maybe tomorrow."

Jun sighed, "You have no motivation. What if I told you that it would be in your best interest to learn how to defend yourself?"

"Is the world going to end or something?"

"Well— "

"I didn't think so."

"The real world can be a cruel place. What if you decide that you want to leave here some day? Wouldn't you want to prepare yourself?"

"I've always lived here with you in these mountains. If I left, who would be here to take care of you later on?"

"Oh, don't worry about me."

"If I don't worry about you, who else will? Certainly not that other deadbeat guy…"

"Don't call him that. You have no right to even talk about someone you know little about."

"I can say what I want. Unless, of course, you would like to change that. Why don't you just tell me about him?"

"Jin…I thought I went over this with you…"

"I'm going back to sleep now. You can go play 'aikido' by yourself."

"Jin! You get out of that bed, right now! I don't want to put up with this today. I thought I would ask you nicely, but I guess it won't work like that today."

Jin had never tried to goad the other into talking about something and he decided that this would be the last time he tried as Jun violently dragged him out of bed and quickly put him into a position that didn't allow resistance and basically tossed him into the bathroom.

"Now, I want you downstairs in thirty minutes. I hope you'll be ready by then," she said in a surprisingly calm voice.

His arms were sore from the hold that she had gotten him in, but it wasn't anything too bad. One thing still remained though; he still didn't feel like doing anything extraneous today since he had done something similar with her just yesterday. He wanted a break. There was a window in the bathroom he was in, he would take that. They lived in a rancher so there was only one floor to worry about. After opening the window, it was easy enough to climb outside. He closed the window as quietly as he could so as not to be quite so obvious in his method of escape.

"Jin! I thought I'd find you here."

He turned with a look of surprise towards Jun. "How did you…?"

"How stupid do you think I am? Jin, it really is important to get this kind of training in. I'm not sure how I can stress the importance."

"Then tell me why. Why is it so important? And don't give me that 'you need to be able to defend yourself' crap. Defend myself from what exactly?"

"It's important, Jin, that's all you need to know."

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

Jun turned away from the other. "As long as needed. There are some things in this world that you are better off not knowing in the first place. That's what I've learned. I may not always be there to protect you. That's why—"

"You're not making any sense. Talking in riddles isn't like you."

"Jin, you're too young to understand."

"Then help me understand."

"No! And that's the end of it. Since you're out here right now and it's obvious that you're not in a good mood—why don't we fight?"

Jin was caught off guard by this. Could it be possible that she was actually being aggressive? "I told you already; I don't want to."

"What would you do if someone's fist was aiming for your face?" Jun said as she approached the other. "Would you run?"

Jin didn't know why, but he was beginning to feel apprehensive. The way she advanced upon him, he couldn't help but back away from her. Not only did he not want to fight, but he certainly wasn't ready for actual combat. All that he had been taught was through demonstrations and he copying her movements. He couldn't imagine what it would feel like if his attacks actually connected with another. When Jun picked up speed, so did he. It felt as if he was running for dear life. The entire circumstances were ridiculous, but he knew that he didn't want to stop.

"This isn't tag!" Jin could hear his mother yelling out from behind him, "You're acting like a little two year old! Just stand still already!"

But Jin picked up speed until he found himself racing through the thick forest on the outcrops of the property. He wasn't even sure if she was following any longer. All he could hear was his footfalls crashing onto the dry twigs and leaves. He took a chance and glanced behind himself as he ran forth. It was the last thing he remembered doing before his world turned completely dark.

/

A full moon shined brightly in the sky and it was dark enough that the stars were at their brightest. A young woman stared up into that same sky with hopeful eyes. She stood under a lone streetlight with arms clasped behind her. She turned when she heard footsteps approaching her.

"Kazuya?" she asked to the darkened figure.

The figure paused for a moment as if confused then it moved into the area where the light shined; she was a little put off by the man's appearance.

"You're not Kazuya. Who are you?"

"Were you…waiting for someone? You know, it isn't safe for a girl to be out on the streets so late."

"I'm fine. I can take care of myself. You didn't answer my question though. Just who are you?"

"Jin."

"Just 'Jin' then." Her eyes narrowed a little, "You look familiar somehow…"

"I can assure you, there's no way you could have met me before. Could you do me a favor though? Could you tell me…where exactly this is?"

"So…you're lost? You do know that this is Japan, right?"

"Well, I got that much."

"Yamaga prefecture although we're in the poorer parts. Did you hit your head or something?"

"No…I don't think."

"Well, it looks like you're alright, but looks can be deceiving. Are you sure we haven't met before?"

"I'm certain."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't give you my name. It's Jun." She did not miss the surprised look that crossed the other's face. "Wait, is that name familiar? Maybe I do know you."

"No…it's impossible…I must be dreaming."

"Are you okay?"

Images flashed through his mind so quickly that he could hardly decipher them. This isn't real, right? This woman…she couldn't be the same one that I know about…she's too young…she's far too young. He felt soft arms come across his shoulders. He must have closed his eyes because he had to open them in order to look at the woman known as Jun once again.

"I'm fine. I just…I guess I just remembered something."

"That's good, right? Did you remember something useful?"

"No...it was just…'something'."

Jun stepped away politely, "It sounds like you have amnesia. I can't imagine how that must be like forgetting who you are and all those who loved you. Do you have a place to stay?"

"Um…no."

Jun put her palms together in front of her gently as she smiled, "Then that does it. I can't let someone in need of help be left out here in the streets. You can stay with me."

"What? But you don't even know me. We're strangers. Why would you be so nice to a stranger?"

"I told you, didn't I? I can't stand to leave a person in need."

How could anyone be so…Wait, I shouldn't be surprised…this is Jun, this is Mom. But still, I'm nothing more than a stranger to her…

Jin hadn't heard another set of footsteps coming from the darkness in front of them. He was equally startled by the intimidating voice:

"Who's that kid with you?"

"Kazuya? You really came. I'm glad."

Jin still couldn't see the man, but he saw as Jun rushed forth. First he saw a foot and then as he stepped into the light, Jin got a full look at him. Something about him immediately set the other on edge, but Jun seemed so happy. It was the kind of happiness that Jin hadn't thought his mother capable of. All they did was hug, but it seemed like something far more intimate. Jin found that he couldn't look the whole time; he had to look away to some less provocative scene…like the ground.

"I told you that I would come don't look so surprised," Jin heard the man say.

"You're late."

"I got caught up."

"You always say things like that," Jun accused.

"Can we just go already?"

"Wait, I forgot to introduce you to somebody."

Jin felt when the attention was brought immediately on him and he turned to the other two.

"Hm, this chump again."

"Kazuya, don't be so mean," Jun said as she gave the other a good shove. "His name is Jin. Jin, this is Kazuya, my um…he's my…"

"Boyfriend," the other finished abruptly.

Jin could tell that she had not been prepared for that kind of finish which struck Jin as odd, but he decided that it would be wise not to mention this.

It took Jun a moment to regain her bearings after she looked up at the other and he returned her gaze with one that she seemed satisfied with. "You see, he has amnesia and he needs a place to stay and—

"You offered your place, right?"

"Yes," Jun answered Kazuya.

Then Jin was finally presented with Kazuya's full-on gaze. Already there was a frown on Kazuya's face. "I don't know who you are, but if Jun deems you trustworthy, then I'll just have to take her word for it. However, you do anything stupid and you'll be paying with your life."

"Kazuya! Stop trying to scare off my guest. I said that he needs help, okay?"

"I really don't feel like arguing with you. Let's just take this fool over to your place and then we can go."

"Really? You'll drive him? That's really nice of you."

Jin had a feeling that they had actually forgotten that he was even there when he saw Kazuya take up one of her hands and lead her off into the darkness. Jin followed after them.

"Don't mention it," Jin heard Kazuya say in a less than enthusiastic tone. Kazuya sighed exasperatedly, "You and your damn strays," he grumbled.

Jin found himself getting into the backseat of a midnight blue Corvette. In fact, he had never driven in a car before, but Jin decided that this too he would keep to himself.

"You're being awfully quiet," Kazuya said a loud as he turned on the engine to the car.

It took Jin a moment to realize that Kazuya had been talking to him.

"Well, kid, are you mute?"

"Oh…uh…"

"See, you're scaring him," Jun interjected. She turned in her seat to look back at Jin. "Don't mind him. He's harmless," she said with a smile.

Yeah…when you're around…Jin wasn't altogether certain, but this Kazuya seemed like he could be a handful without her presence. If anything, they made a rather intriguing couple. He wondered how one could even stand the other.

"So…you guys are going out on a date?" Jin finally asked.

Jin felt the tension increase twofold in the car. He wondered if he had managed to say the wrong thing. Was there even a right thing to say at this point? The silence was so deafening that he thought Jun must have fallen out.

"Y-Yeah…a date…" Jun finally replied. "Right…Kazuya?"

Jin watched his mother look at the man a little nervously. What exactly is going on?

"Call it what you want," the man responded gruffly, "I don't care. I decided that I would take you somewhere so I'm taking you somewhere."

That's a date, right? I feel like I've stepped into some alternate reality. Isn't this still a dream? Jin was glad when he was dropped off at Jun's place. It was a small apartment on the third floor. Before Jun had gotten out of the car to escort him to her apartment, Kazuya had rolled down his window and gave him a look that might have killed a lesser man.

"Don't steal anything and don't try to take advantage of her."

"Yes, sir," Jin said automatically before he could stop himself.

He couldn't help it though, the man had seemed quite serious about his orders and he feared that if he had said anything else, the situation might have turned south. Harmless my ass…

Jin was left alone in her apartment. The only thing he did as soon as he heard the car speed off into the night was sit down on the living room couch. That man, why didn't he sit right with him besides the fact that he was more than a bit intimidating? His eyes were what was the most unsettling of all…it was as if he had been gazing into a mirror. Wait a minute…Jin stood up and went into the nearest bathroom so he could get a good look at the mirror. No wonder those eyes of his had seemed so familiar…his were the very same color. And his hair…and his eyebrows…No, maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions…And Jun had seemed so happy, really happy with him. Could it be that…?

Jin was deep in thought when he finally made his way back to the couch. The implications were almost too much to believe. How hard would it be really for that man known as Kazuya to be the one who would eventually break her heart, who would eventually make her regret ever being with him in the first place? He was rude and menacing—just the kind of person who'd be willing to do such unforgivable things to her. Although he seemed quite tamed under her thumb, Jin would not be fooled by this "charade". Even now, he could be out there scheming her downfall.

That's it! I don't know if this is even real or not…but maybe I was brought here for a reason. Maybe now is my chance to set things straight before they get out of order. I'm well aware of the consequences. If this man really is my father, then I may never be born in the first place…but my mother…she doesn't deserve the kind of sadness she feels now. I'd give my life. All I've ever wanted to do was to protect her—now, Kazuya, if you think you'll have your way with her…you have another thing coming.

/

AN: I apologize if anyone seems a bit out of character, but everyone is younger than what they were in the game and thus have slightly different personalities. If you were looking for that cold, aloof Jin, you probably won't find it here. If you were looking for a less naïve Jun or a far more badass Kazuya, you won't find that here either. Hopefully though, you'll find this to your liking. There just aren't enough good Kazuya/Jin (Father/son relationship) stories out there. Oh yeah, and reviews would be immensely helpful since this is only my second Tekken fanfic. You see something a bit off or something you really like about this so far, feel free to tell me. I'm all ears.